A Reno man who fled while a jury was deliberating his case and was subsequently found in Las Vegas was sentenced on Tuesday.

Reginald Ellis was convicted of two counts of sex trafficking of a minor and one count of child abuse in September of last year but fled before the verdict could be handed down.

He was tracked down in Las Vegas, apprehended, and returned to Washoe County. On Tuesday, he was sentenced to life in prison.

He will be eligible for parole after 15 years.

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NOVEMBER 21 UPDATE

A Reno man convicted of sex trafficking who fled while awaiting his verdict in September has been found and arrested in Las Vegas.

Reginald Ellis was located and arrested Thursday morning, according to a release from the Washoe County District Attorney's Office.

His arrest comes after two months of extensive searching by the Washoe County DA's Investigations Team, in collaboration with the Regional Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit, the US Marshals, and local law enforcement in Las Vegas.

Ellis will be extradited to Washoe County, likely within the next 30 days.

He will be sentenced when he is back in the area.

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

A Reno man found guilty of multiple charges of sex trafficking children, fled the area while awaiting his verdict on Wednesday night around 5:30 pm.

The Washoe County District Attorney's Office and police seek the public's help in finding the now fugitive 37-year-old Reginald Ellis, who was previously released on his own recognizance by the Reno Justice Court in January of last year.

Ellis had originally been arrested in June 2022 after prostituting and beating a 16-year-old girl.

Detectives from the Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT team) were contacted by the victim after the girl was admitted to a local hospital, and through further investigation they learned that Ellis had also been grooming her 14-year-old sister to be prostituted.

Ellis was charged and found guilty of sex trafficking of a child under 16, sex trafficking of a child under 14, and child abuse involved sexual exploitation. 

The Washoe County District Attorney's Office is asking if anyone has any information regarding the whereabouts of Reginald Ellis, to contact the Reno Police Department's non-emergency line at (775) 334-2121.Â